I was moderately concerned about even being allowed into India because their Visa application system was, to be polite, awful. I received my e-Visa just a day before I left the US but I was still a little uneasy. While checking-in for my flight in Bangkok, the agent had to see the Visa and enter a lot of information but in the end I was allowed to board my flights in Bangkok and Hong Kong.
I was the first off the plane in New Delhi and when I got to immigrations there was only one person a head of me. I received my stamp and officially entered India with no problem at all. When I arrived at the baggage carousel my bag was already there. Wow, this was going well, maybe too well.
I had booked a Holiday Inn Express at the airport and to my knowledge it was similar to the hotel that I stay at when I arrive at Tokyo's Haneda airport. Boy was I wrong. I found out that the hotel was actually a transit hotel beyond security and you had to have a departure within 24 hours. I was staying in Delphi for 3 nights total. With the help of the agent Ahnan and my IHG app I was able to book a room at the Holiday Inn about 2 miles away and right next to the IBIS hotel where I was to stay the next two nights. Ahnan helped me navigate the chaos to get a taxi. I then had the crazy ride that I mentioned last post by all was good. I had a room and it was nice. Improvise, adapt, overcome.
After a fairly good night's sleep I decided my cancel my IBIS reservation and just use points that I had accumulate to stay the next two nights. I got to stay in my room - all was good. Or, was it?
The thing that I haven't mentioned, the thing that I learned almost immediately at the airport, the thing that was to profoundly alter my plans for exploring Delphi was - that elections were being held over the next two days (the two days that I would be here) for Legislative positions AND soooooo almost everything would be closed AND no alcohol could be served or purchased ANYWHERE. The biggest arrow to my plans was that this meant that there would be even more people on the streets.
Two major factors entered into my final decision: 1) the air quality was awful (in most cities where air pollution is a problem, you can at least see a couple of blocks until you start to see the haze of pollution, here it's hazy just looking across the street), and 2) I didn't want to fight an incredible number of people on the street to get some photos. Hence, I made the decision to order wander nearby. Didn't get many photos, none of any famous landmark or site, but I think the decision was a good one.
Lastly, a minor factor that had to be considered is the message that one receives when there are barricades around the hotel, all cars are searched (under the hood and trunk) and your baggage is x-rayed and you go through a metal detector and scanned with the wand each time you enter the hotel. The same screening is done a block away to enter a shopping mall with a food count.
So what's the verdict, did I enjoy my stay? Yes, but I am disappointed that I didn't get to go out and explore and capture photos as I've done everywhere else worldwide. I did sit and get to watch people go about their lives, but this is a well to do area near the airport and doesn't reflect the real India. I did get to eat a lot of great Indian food. Please don't ask me what I had because I certainly don't know.
Tomorrow I need to get up at 0400 and board a flight to Helsinki then it's on to Munich. So, Gute Nacht und bis zum nächsten Mal.
Until next time, be safe, be kind and peace out mates.